Treasury blocks Eskom request for Tegeta coal-supply extension

South Africa’s National Treasury denied Eskom’s request to extend a short-term coal-supply contract for the Arnot power plant with Gupta family-controlled Tegeta Exploration and Resources, the electricity producer said. Four companies including Tegeta are providing the plant with coal until long-term suppliers are named at the end of September, Khulu Phasiwe, an Eskom spokesperson, said by phone. The utility has asked them if they could supply more of the fuel to cushion the transition. “Treasury has rejected Tegeta’s extension,” he said. Another producer has offered to supply more, he said, declining to identify the operator.